Colts prepare for the return of Peyton Manning

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The most anticipated week of the NFL season has arrived. On Sunday Peyton Manning returns to Indianapolis for the first time to face the team he played with for 13 seasons. The Colts understand there will be a lot of mixed emotions in the crowd but they are treating it like any other game.

“I don’t think the approach changes. It’s another week preparing for a good team. Nothing changes,” said quarterback Andrew Luck.

Peyton Manning was released by the Colts in 2012 and he has gone on to put up big numbers in Denver. This season Manning leads the league with 22 touchdown passes and 2,179 passing yards.

“There is nothing he hasn’t seen. He can handle a volume of information. He is unbelievable at the line of scrimmage. He is a special player,” added Colts head coach Chuck Pagano.

The Colts let Manning go because Andrew Luck was waiting in the wings. The team drafted Luck #1 overall in 2012 and so far he has lived up to the expectations.

“He plays like the number one pick in the draft. He’s handled it well,” said wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

There are not a lot of players left from Peyton’s time in Indianapolis but for those that are still here they will be a good resource for the game this weekend. Reggie Wayne, Robert Mathis and Antonie Bethea may have some inside information they all won a Super Bowl with the four-time NFL MVP.

“I go against old teammates all the time. He does mean a lot to this organization. I’m ready to get it over with,” said Wayne.

The Colts will be honoring Manning before kick off of Sunday nights game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The contest kicks off at 8:40 p.m.